When it’s not a kiddie’s movie anymore

Being single and not having experienced the torment joy of having children of my very own, I’m never fazed about what’s on the circuit that might not be suitable for children to watch. To be honest, I’ve never given it a second thought, until now.

I recently read that Britain has declared the new Harry Potter movie “unsuitable for under-12s to watch alone”. Silly question… Wasn’t the concept of Harry Potter produced with the juvenile market in mind? Granted, Harry Potter, like most of the animated comedies & “kiddies” movies out there, could have shocking scenes, humour or innuendos aimed over the heads of the young minds and give us “older” generation a good few chuckles or jolts instead. However, I still feel that if they make a movie, which is going to cause young ones to want to watch it, it should be correctly suited. Well that’s how my mind works anyhow!

I remember the day (a long, long time ago) when the possibility of me going to see a movie was dependent on the age restriction. Now, I truly do believe that those are put in place for a reason. I believe it’s for the protection of young, developing minds (fat load of help it did mine). I feel that watching a movie with “moderate fantasy violence, threat and horror” can have a negative effect on a 12-year-old mind whether it is on the conscious or subconscious. On the other side of the coin we all know that there isn’t a single person out there who has strictly adhered to the little number in that little triangle on the movie preview board thingy (I don’t know what the technical term is for the movie preview board thingy).

Anyhow, I just don’t grasp the concept of the movie industry creating a movie directed and the younger market, but then stipulating that they require the accompaniment of a parent. To me it just seems as though that defeats the whole object.

Lata…